Kidney Cancer Unfiltered

In this episode, Kidney Cancer Unfiltered host Annamaria Scaccia gathers her own family for an intimate conversation about going through the cancer experience together and the impact it had on all of them. With her partner Sam and son Kelly, the family talks through learning about Annamaria's kidney cancer and subsequent thyroid cancer diagnoses and what life has been like since then. As Annamaria said, some things they have talked about before, other things were a revelation, but ultimately, the conversation brought them all a deeper understanding of what they were feeling. Because at the end of the day, it's not just Annamaria's cancer journey, it's something they share as a family. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Host Annamaria Scaccia talks with Katie Coleman and Dr. Pavlos Msaouel as they unpack Katie's stage 4 kidney cancer diagnosis at age 29. Katie shares her feelings of naivety and intimidation when she was first diagnosed, the long journey to trusting her treatment plans, and how she transformed her experience into her book, "Too Young for Cancer." Dr. Msaouel, a world-renown researcher and clinician with special expertise in rare types of kidney cancer, has journeyed with Katie and other patients to reach for better treatments and hope for the future.

Heather Williams faced the unimaginable, receiving a rare kidney cancer diagnosis and finding out she was pregnant in the span on 13 days. Heather was just over a year into marriage to the love of her life and they hoped to start a family. With host Annamaria Scaccia, Heather shared the challenges of undergoing treatment for the rare type of kidney cancer called renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) while pregnant and the unwavering support from her medical team. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Dr. Pedro Barata is a kidney cancer expert and genitourinary medical oncologist at the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Ohio. He talks to host Annamaria Scaccia about the significant challenges of accessing quality oncology care in rural areas and how socioeconomic factors impact treatment outcomes as well as the role of social and case workers and the importance of building supportive cancer survivor communities. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Raul Chavez is an 18-year kidney cancer survivor with an unclassifiable diagnosis. In conversation with host Annamaria Scaccia, Raul shared the emotional and mental toll of living life in three-month intervals, always wondering if he’ll receive a new lease on life with each scan. Raul described the post-traumatic stress he endured after his diagnosis and being in "survivor mode" during the first five years. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Amy Plaizier has faced not one but TWO cancers in a short period of time - kidney cancer and thyroid cancer. With host Annamaria Scaccia, Amy discussed the challenges of managing her symptoms, treatment side effects, and the lack of research connecting kidney and thyroid cancers. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Mallory Foxx is a kidney cancer survivor and the 2023 Mrs. Black International Ambassador, a title she won while preparing for surgery. In conversation with host Annamaria Scaccia, Mallory's story is a reminder of the importance of advocating for yourself, building a strong support network, and finding multiple communities. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Host Annamaria Scaccia sits down with Kate Zalewski, RD, a specialized kidney cancer dietitian, to debunk common diet myths and misconceptions. Kate emphasizes the importance of personalized nutrition plans and how proper nutrition can support your treatment and overall well-being. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.

Sid Sadler opens up about the importance of social media in his kidney cancer journey. After his diagnosis, Sid turned to TikTok and Instagram to find community, humor, and invaluable resources. His story highlights how these platforms can connect people one-on-one and provide much-needed support. Visit kidneycancer.org for more support and resources.